The 15 Worst Draft Picks in the Mike Shanahan Era

The 2009 NFL draft is just around the corner and Denver Broncos' fans are wondering how the new regime led by coach Josh McDaniels will approach it.

Mike Shanahan had one of the more successful tenures in NFL history in his years with the Broncos winning back-to-back Super Bowls and many division titles.

However, it was the play of his defense in his last few seasons in Denver that ultimately led to his demise and firing after the 2008 season.

Looking over his record in the draft, you might not have to go very far to understand what may have been the reason for the lack of talent on that side of the ball.

As good of an offensive mind as "Shanny" was, he left a lot to be desired when it came to analyzing players coming into the league.

Here's a look at the 15 worst draft picks in the Shanahan era:

15. PHIL YEBOAH-KODIE 1995 Fifth Round - Pick 146 LB Penn State

It was a close call for the 15 spot, but Yeboah-Kodie won out on his name alone. Drafted out of Penn State 1995 he was cut in training camp never to play a game with the Broncos. Played for the Redskins and Panthers ('95) and the Colts ('96), but never recorded a tackle in the NFL.

Lelie, started in 22 games for the Broncos and made a few plays in his time there, but his 3,007 yards and 12 tds in four years in Denver didn't add up to the No. 19 overall pick. Lelie has also played for the Falcons ('06), 49ers ('07) and last season with the Raiders.

I guess you could say that the book is still out on the former BCS champion from Florida. In his rookie season he played in six games and had 12 tackles and one sack before breaking his shin in practice ending his season.

In '08, he did bounce back to play in 12 games, but his 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks did nothing to justify a first round pick.

Friedman battled back from tearing his ACL in his rookie season to start 22 games from 2000-'01, but the Broncos should have gotten more than three seasons for a second round pick. Friedman also played for the Redskins ('03-05), Bears ('05), and Browns ('07) making just two more starts in his career.

Brown played three seasons on the Denver defense and recorded 77 tackles and six interceptions. He then moved on to play with the Texans until 2004 ending his career with 256 tackles and nine interceptions.

LeSueur would only play for the Broncos in his rookie season and did not appear in a game. He went on to play for the Jets ('05) and Browns ('06) seeing time in just two games in his NFL career. He played last season for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League.

For a mid-second round pick one would think a team would get more than two seasons and eight tackles out of that player. That's all the Broncos got from one of the worst picks in franchise history. Was out of the NFL after the 2004 season.

Drafting the troubled Clarette out of OSU had everyone shaking their head. It seems that the only person on earth that didn't know his background was Shanahan. Clarette, who was cut that season in training camp, is now blogging from his prison cell. He was arrested for robbery, carrying a concealed weapon, and resisting arrest.

He robbed two college students at gun point in a fast food parking lot. Then he was pulled over (with spike strips) and in his SUV they found assault weapons, a huge knife and a bottle of Grey Goose. The police officers tried to tase him, but he was wearing a Kevlar vest that prevented that from working.

During a period in time when the Broncos needed help on defense, they took a huge swing-and-miss with Middlebrooks in the first round of the 2001 draft. Starting just one game in four seasons with the Broncos, the super-bust had only 66 tackles and no interceptions in his time with Denver.

Played briefly in 2005 with the 49ers and now plays for the Toronto Argonaughts of the Canadian Football League.